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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM111301District No. 1 Commissioner: Dan Titterness District No. 2 Commissioner: Glen Huntingford District No. 3 Commissioner: Richard Wojt County Administrator: Charles Saddler Deputy County Administrator: David Goldsmith Deputy County Administrator: Gary Rowe Clerk of the Board: Lorna Delaney MINUTES Week of November 13, 2001 The meeting was called to order at the appointed time by Chairman Glen Huntingford. Commissioners Richard Wojt and Dan Titterness were both present. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BRIEFING SESSION: The following items were discussed: Gary Rowe reported that he attended a meeting on October 24 regarding Secure Schools funding. There was a presentation on the Federal government's application process and project management procedures. Title I! applications are reviewed by the local Resource Advisory Committee and then submitted for approval by the National Forest Supervisor. Applications need to be submitted by February to be approved in April for the first fiscal year which began in October. Applications for the second fiscal year need to be submitted in June for approval in August. The primary focus is road maintenance and watershed restoration activities that have already gone through the federal process. Projects that Jefferson County will look at include: road maintenance, weed control, watershed culvert restoration adjacent to the National Forest, and a wildlife habitat assessment that would include National Forest property. The County wants to work with the National Forest Service on a joint application and there is a meeting scheduled with the Forest Service to discuss the joint application. Title II! monies are to fund after school programs. This portion of the funding is administered by the County. That money may be distributed in December. This requires the County to go through a process to solicit proposals. Gary Rowe also reported that the County applied for a clock tower grant through FEMA for $2.5 million with a partial match of $1 million from a grant that will be applied for with the Washington State Historical Society. The remaining $312,000 for the project will be paid locally. The State will not forward the County's application to FEMA unless they have a commitment from the County that the project will go forward even if the Historical Society Grant doesn't get approved. Gary Rowe asked the Board for approval to draft a letter to FEMA for the Chairman to sign. The County will know about the State grant before the FEMA grant. Commissioner Wojt moved to authorize the Chair to sign a letter to FEMA. Commissioner Titterness seconded motion which carried by a unanimous vote. Page 1 Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of November 13, 2001 Gary Rowe explained that the County is required to hold a public hearing on the proposed redistricting plan 1 week prior to the adoption of the plan. The County's final decision on the plan is subject to challenge in Superior Court. An affected citizen has 45 days to challenge the plan after it is adopted. After that, the Legislature adopts the State redistricting and the County Auditor adjusts the precincts. Commissioner Titterness asked that copies of the redistricting scenarios be sent to the Chambers of Commerce and local junior taxing districts so that the community has an opportunity to review them before the hearing. Commissioner Titterness moved to set the hearing on the redistricting plan for December 6, 2001 at 7 p.m. in the Superior Court Courtroom. Commissioner Wojt seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. Charles Saddler reported that a memo has been sent to all departments asking them to review their 2002 base budget and cut 2 1/2 % in personnel line items (salaries, benefits.) A memo went out a few weeks ago asking for a 2 1/2 % cut for all non-personnel items. These cuts are to be sustainable for up to 3 years. The County is preparing for the first storm event of the year. Materials have been stockpiled by Public Works to be used in case of flooding. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: The following comments were made: Several neighbors were present to comment on the request to transfer the title of the 35th Street property to the Housing Authority for an affordable housing project; this site would be a good location for a mixed income housing project but it would require a good deal of program preparation, design, and money; the 35th Street property has wetland considerations that need to be resolved and that is why it hasn't been developed into a park; a suggestion was made that the County contribute the land and the City contribute the development and building fees; a suggestion was made that a non-profit group with experience in affordable housing help the Housing Authority; another person wants to see the 35th Street property put to best use which he feels would be a park because of the wetlands on the property; the drainage problem in that area is significant and the embankment is already eroding; another neighbor from Dundee Hill, the area near 35th Street, stated that they are willing to work with a project for affordable housing if the vision makes sense; issues with the property need to worked out before it is transferred; the County can't afford the 20 Year Park Plan; the Board should follow the staff recommendation on the MID issue and hold a hearing; clear criteria and processes are necessary in the MID agreement and there is still more work to be done on the inter-local agreement and flow chart; the inventory of available land should be done first; the draft "Property Access Policy" by the County needs more work because it doesn't reasonably address property owners' concerns; and the Prosecuting Attorney's opinion on several lawsuits against the County on the County Records Policy is not correct. Page 2 Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of November 13, 2001 APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA: Commissioner Wojt moved to adopt and approve all the items on the Consent Agenda as presented. Commissioner Titterness seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. RESOLUTION NO. 86-01 re: Creating a County Project Designated as CR1554; Improvements to Quinault S. Shore Road RESOLUTION NO. 87-01 re: Creating a County Project Designated as CR1555; Improvements to Duckabush Road AGREEMENT re: Professional Services for the South Jefferson County Children Birth-to-Three Program; Jefferson County Health and Human Services; Concerned Citizens AGREEMENT re: Professional Services for Community Access to Individuals with Developmental Disabilities; Jefferson County Health and Human Services; Concerned Citizens of Forks AGREEMENT, Interlocal re: Administration of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding for Housing Rehabilitation Projects; Olympic Community Action Programs (OlyCAP) AGREEMENT, Supplement No. 2 re: Funding for Monitoring Hoh River Logjam Project; Jefferson County Public Works; Washington State Department of Transportation Approval of Telephone Survey and Letter to Participants Regarding the Non-Motorized Transportation Plan and Parks and Recreation Plan; Jefferson County Public Works HEARING re: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Application; 2002 Public Service Grant: County Administrator Charles Saddler read the hearing notice into the record: This public hearing has been scheduled to review community development and housing needs, inform citizens of the availability of funds and eligible uses of the State Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), and receive comment; on proposed activities, particular/y for/ow- and moderate- income persons residing in Jefferson County. $12 7, 646 will be available to Jefferson County and the Olympic Community Action Agency (O/yCAD to fund pub/ic service activities that principally benefit/ow- and moderate- income persons. The draft appfication for this funding proposal will be available for review at the Jefferson County Commissioners' Office, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00p. m. Monday through Friday. Comment; may also be submitted in writing to the Jefferson County Commissioners until the date of the hearing. The Commissioners' Chambers are handicap accessible. Arrangement to reasonably accommodate the need; of special classes of citizens, including handicap accessibifity or interpreter will be made upon receiving twenty-four (24) hour advance notice. Contact the Commissioners' Office at (360) 385-9100. Signed: Glen Hunting~Cord, Chair, Jefferson County Board of Commissioners Page 3 Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of November 13, 2001 Charles Saddler explained that the State receives HUD funding for public service programs. The County and the State utilize these funds for funding the local community action agencies which are chartered agencies that provide social service programs. This is a long standing tradition in the State to make these funds available. The Chair opened the public hearing. Hearing no comments for or against this proposal, the Chair closed the hearing. Commissioner Wojt moved to adopt the RESOLUTION NO. 88-01 in the matter of certification of compliance for CDBG Public Service Grant. Commissioner Titterness seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. MID-Development Agreement; UDC Amendment: Josh Peters, Associate Planner, submitted several documents to the Board: · The Planning Commission recommendation. · The Planning Commission minority report. · A memo from DCD to the Planning Commission dated September 13 with the preliminary staff recommendation. · Written public comment letters that the Planning Commission received. He introduced Jeff Randall, Planning Manager for the City of Port Townsend, who presented a memo from the City Council to inform the Board that they will meet on this issue today. Chairman Huntingford stated that at the last Joint Growth Management Steering Committee meeting some City Council members brought up several concerns about this process. Josh Peters advised that the City hasn't forwarded any questions to the County or made any comments. Jeff Randall explained that this issue came up at the public hearing on a City Comprehensive Plan amendment. He read a memo from the City that outlined the language in the Comprehensive Plan amendment that they are considering. "Consistent with County Wide Planning Policy 7.4, established through an interlocal agreement with Jefferson County, the process for reviewing applications for major industrial developments as defined by RCW 36.78.365." This amendment makes the assumption that the City and the County will successfully develop a joint process for MIDs and there is some concern that this amendment is being brought forward out of sequence. DCD staff recommends that the County Commissioners hold a public hearing after the November 29, 2001 Joint Growth Management Steering Committee meeting. Chairman Huntingford said that he would like to have the issues worked out before the hearing is held. Jeff Randall noted that if the City has specific questions they will present them to the County to be discussed at the next Joint Growth Management Steering Committee A1 Scalf recommended that the City host the next Joint Growth Management Steering Committee meeting. The City can prepare the agenda to make sure all of their concerns are addressed. Page 4 Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of November 13, 2001 Josh Peters added that City and County staff developed a draft interlocal agreement. It was approved by the County Prosecuting Attorney and sent to the City several weeks ago. It will be returned to the County after review by the City Attorney. The County wants this agreement considered for approval concurrent with the ordinance. Commissioner Titterness moved to accept the staff recommendation. Commissioner Wojt asked to amend Commissioner Titterness' motion to include a review of the issues in the minority report and that the testimony from the Planning Commission hearing also needs to included in the record for the Board's hearing. Commissioner Titterness did not accept the amendment to the motion and answered that he wants to set the hearing and not consider additional items. Chairman Huntingford pointed out that the recommendation from the Planning Commission is advisory and the Board can work to incorporate all comments received as part of the record. Commissioner Titterness added that the members of the Planning Commission who submitted the minority report can also attend the Board's hearing. He feels that the report raises questions and doesn't suggest solutions. Commissioner Wojt said that he feels the County needs to have answers to these questions at the hearing. Commissioner Titterness asked for a vote on the original motion. Commissioner Wojt seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. Consideration of Request to Transfer Title of County Owned Property on 35th Street, Port Townsend, WA; Jefferson County Housing Authority: Charles Saddler advised that a letter from the Jefferson County Housing Authority was received in October pointing out the need for local government to address affordable housing issues in Jefferson County. Affordable housing is also a major issue in the City's strategic plan. The County has discussed bringing the community together to address affordable housing issues with Common Ground, a non-profit organization. The Housing Authority has requested that the County consider transferring their interest in this property for the development of an affordable housing project. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney David Alvarez explained that the MOU between the County and the City of Port Townsend regarding the 35th Street property and the amendment to the MOU are not clear concerning the reversionary clause. It is clear that this property would revert back to the County if the City does not make some forward progress to develop it as a park by 2005. He would like to see a quit claim deed from the City to the County to clean up the record. The County will need to follow the process outlined in RCW Title 39 to surplus the property before any transfer is allowed. John Estes thanked the Board for appointing him as a Commissioner on the Housing Authority and reported that he is now the Executive Director. They are currently operating a very successful Section 8 Program. They are proposing to apply to the Washington State Housing Finance Commission for a tax fund grant and to the Housing Trust Fund for a loan. In order to apply for this funding, they need title to the property. David Timmons, City Manager, has asked him to work with the City for a CDBG grant for infrastructure to the property. He presented a copy of the Housing Corporation Law which states that any city or county can transfer property and give assistance to the Housing Authority to provide for their programs. Page 5 Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of November 13, 2001 Commissioner Wojt noted that the Board had several comments during their Public Comment Period today about whether the 35th Street property is a good location for this project. John Estes stated that they want to create a pleasant development in a good neighborhood. This property is on a school bus route, and they are going to work with Transit to service that area. They want to create something that people will be proud of. He showed an artist rendering of what they would like this property to look like. These units would be 2 and 3 bedroom duplexes and resemble a commercial apartment building. A community kitchen would be available for meetings. Chairman Huntingford reported that some of the property's neighbors have expressed concerns about the wetland issue and how that will impact the project. John Estes explained that they have walked the property and they didn't find the wetlands. If there are wetlands on the site they would be included into the planning. Chairman Huntingford suggested that the Housing Authority contact the City and review the work that they have done on the property to develop a park. Mr. Estes explained that the Housing Authority is looking at a project that would include ten 2-bedroom and ten 3- bedroom duplex units and 5 stand alone units. Commissioner Wojt suggested that the Housing Authority work with the neighborhood association. John Estes assured the Board that they don't want to create a development that would be unacceptable to the local community. Chairman Huntingford said the neighbors had a variety of issues and they asked to be contacted regarding any development on with this property. John Estes stated that this project would not be a Section 8 Development. It would be more like a commercial development. The Housing Authority will work with OlyCAP to provide services to the tenants. Jeff Randall, City Planner reported that this property is currently in an open space designation. It will have to be rezoned to a commercial use. Some of the comments about the storm water and wetlands are valid and this will limit development on the site. The City has discussed affordable housing and they would support that effort. There is a City goal to have multifamily housing throughout the City and this type of project would fit that goal. The zoning is R2 adjacent to this property and a plan to build duplexes would not require a zoning change. Another of the City's goals is to allow mixed commercial and neighborhood commercial throughout City. John Estes advised that the Housing Authority needs to start the application process for the Tax Fund Grant and the Housing Trust Fund loan in December. Page 6 Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of November 13,2001 Response to Mark Rose on Community Development Block Grant Grievance: Commissioner Wojt moved to approve the response letter to Mark Rose on his Community Development Block Grant grievance and to send a copy to Josh Peters in the Department of Community Development. Commissioner Tittemess seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. MEETING ADJOURNED JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONER~/~ AT~D~:o ~ ~ '., ~Tittem~Member Delsey, CMC Clerk of the Bored Page 7